Man charged over alleged fake plane parts scam which grounded hundreds of flights
The director of a company is facing fraud charges after allegedly supplying counterfeit plane parts to airlines globally.
Jose Alejandro Zamora Yrala, who ran UK-based AOG Technics, is accused of defrauding customers, according to the Serious Fraud Office (SFO). AOG Technics' clients included airlines, maintenance firms, and parts suppliers.
In 2023, planes were grounded in the UK and worldwide after safety alerts were issued by the UK's Civil Aviation Authority, the United States' Federal Aviation Administration, and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency to airlines that may have purchased or installed parts from AOG Technics.
From 2019 to 2023, the company allegedly falsified documentation that related to the origin, status or condition of aircraft parts.
Zamora Yrala will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 2 charged with fraudulent trading.
Nick Ephgrave, director of the SFO, said: 'Planes were grounded, and significant disruption was caused, today's charges are the outcome of a focused and fast-paced investigation.
'I'm proud that we've acted swiftly, together with our European partners, to bring this important case to charge in just 19 months.'
A UK Civil Aviation Authority spokesperson, said: 'We welcome the progress made by the Serious Fraud Office in its investigation into AOG Technics.
'In August 2023, we acted swiftly to alert UK aviation organisations to the potential supply of unapproved parts and worked closely with international regulators to safeguard aviation safety. We continue to support the SFO and remain committed to upholding the highest safety standards.'
The Independent exclusively revealed in 2023 that parts sold by AOG were found on a Tui aircraft. The part was later removed and the firm struck from Tui's approved supplier list.
Other affected airlines included Ryanair, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, TAP and Virgin Australia Airlines.
AOG was founded in 2015 and due to the worldwide scandal, first reported by Bloomberg, hundreds of planes were grounded.
The case of the London-based company that allegedly supplied jet-engine parts using forged paperwork forced regulators and airlines to assess the scale of the issue. It is thought to have involved thousands of airline parts.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Associated Press
38 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Jannik Sinner won't say why he fired two team members right before Wimbledon
LONDON (AP) — Jannik Sinner confirmed that he recently fired two members of his team — fitness coach Marco Panichi and physiotherapist Ulises Badio, who themselves were replacements for people involved in the player's doping case — but declined Saturday to explain the reason for the change ahead of Wimbledon. Sinner, who has been ranked No. 1 for more than a year, said that he decided shortly after losing in the second round of the grass-court tournament in Halle, Germany, this month to make the change. Sinner has not yet found substitutes for Panichi and Badio, who both used to work with Novak Djokovic. 'Nothing seriously bad happened. They did great work for (the past) three months. Sometimes, things happen,' Sinner said at his pre-tournament news conference. 'The timing obviously isn't the best, but having done a lot of work (together) before, it won't affect this Grand Slam a lot. I feel well physically and mentally and ready to compete.' Play begins Monday at the All England Club, where Sinner was a quarterfinalist in 2024. He will play Luca Nardi in an all-Italian matchup on Tuesday. Last year, Sinner tested positive twice for a trace amount of an anabolic steroid in March; the case wasn't made public until August, shortly before the U.S. Open, which he ended up winning for the second of his three Grand Slam titles. He initially was completely cleared, based on the defense that he accidentally was exposed to the banned substance, Clostebol, via a massage from his then-physiotherapist, Giacomo Naldi. Sinner said his fitness trainer at the time, Umberto Ferrara, purchased a product in Italy and gave it to Naldi for a cut on Naldi's finger. Naldi then treated Sinner while not wearing gloves. The World Anti-Doping Agency appealed the exoneration, and Sinner agreed to serve a three-month ban that ended right before the Italian Open in May. On Saturday, Sinner was asked repeatedly in English and Italian what led him to part ways with Panichi and Badio. 'There's not one specific thing,' Sinner said. He was the runner-up to Carlos Alcaraz at the French Open three weeks ago, wasting a two-set lead and three match points in a final that lasted 5 1/2 hours. As for adding new team members, Sinner said Saturday: 'I haven't thought about replacements. It's not the time to think about my options. But there are a lot of options.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: More AP tennis:
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
HBCU experiences record-breaking application surge
Edward Waters University, the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) established in Florida, has officially broken its all-time record for student applications. The Jacksonville-based HBCU has received nearly 11,500 applications for the Fall 2025 term-more than at any other time in its 158-year history. Steady Growth in Interest and Enrollment Compared to this time last year, applications are up by 6.2%. Additionally, the university has seen a 17.6% increase in enrollment deposits from new students. These numbers show strong momentum and clear intent to enroll. More importantly, they reflect Edward Waters' growing reputation not just among HBCUs, but across the national higher education landscape. Factors Behind the Surge Several key factors are driving this growth. Innovative academic programs, strategic outreach, and effective institutional leadership all contribute to Edward Waters' upward trajectory. The university has become a competitive destination in the HBCU space, offering both undergraduate degrees and an expanding selection of graduate programs. Leadership Celebrates Milestone "This historic milestone speaks volumes about the growing momentum, relevance, and reputation of Edward Waters University across the state, nation, and globe," said Dr. A. Zachary Faison, Jr., President and CEO of Edward Waters University. "We are thrilled to see this record level of interest and are committed to building on this foundation by continuing to provide an accessible, rigorous, and mission-driven education to all students who choose to join us." Graduate Programs Signal Strategic Growth The university's expansion into graduate-level education marks a significant step forward. This move aligns with a broader trend among HBCUs to serve a more diverse and advanced student population. By broadening its academic offerings, Edward Waters is opening doors for students seeking both career-focused and research-driven degrees. Dr. Jennifer Price, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Strategic Matriculant Services, credited the university's success to the enrollment team. "This is more than just a numbers game-it's about the work we've put in to tell the Edward Waters story," she said. "Our team has worked strategically and collaboratively to ensure we are attracting and enrolling students who are ready to thrive, persist, and graduate. We're incredibly excited about what this means for the future of our institution." Looking Ahead to Fall 2025 Registration for the Fall 2025 semester is still open. Classes will begin on August 4, with regular registration ending August 15. As Edward Waters prepares to welcome a new class, it remains committed to its mission of delivering high-quality, values-based education within the HBCU tradition. The post HBCU experiences record-breaking application surge appeared first on HBCU Gameday. Copyright HBCU Gameday 2012-2025
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
I've been loading up on this cheap FTSE 100 share this week!
This week I bought some more shares in a FTSE 100 company that already features heavily in my portfolio. In fact, although I always want to keep my portfolio diversified, I decided that topping up my holding in this company when the share price looked particularly cheap could potentially prove to be a lucrative move. The FTSE 100 share in question is JD Sports (LSE: JD). Why am I so excited about it? Legendary investor Warren Buffett talks about buying into great companies at attractive prices. In my opinion, JD Sports currently ticks both those boxes. To start, consider the business. JD's focus is on selling clothes, shoes and other athletic goods. That is a large market and one that is likely to endure. The customer base also seems to be happy to shell out on pricy goods even when the economy is weak, something I see as a bonus although I do still fear that a deep enough economic downturn could hurt sales. JD Sports has built economies of scale and also has a substantial international reach. It has built a sizeable digital presence but not at the expense of abandoning bricks and mortar. In fact, it has been opening hundreds of stores in recent years and this month opened its largest one yet, at Manchester's Trafford Centre. With a strong brand, regular special products unique to JD, loyal customer base and ongoing growth plans, I reckon this is an outstanding business. But the road has had some bumps. Last year, JD sports issued profit warnings and it has reined in its aggressive store opening programme. A key supplier Nike has had a difficult few years and ongoing weakness in the brand's sales is a risk for JD Sports too given how big a proportion of its sales are of Nike products. But does that justify a share price in pennies? The FTSE 100 company has no debt (excluding lease liabilities) and a market capitalisation of £4.2bn. Yet last year's profit before tax and adjusting items came in at £0.9bn. To me, that makes the current share price in pennies look unreasonably cheap. In a tough market with uncertain risks like tariffs and unpredictable international shipping rates, the FTSE 100 company's profits this year and in subsequent years may not match last year's performance. However, I remain upbeat about the long-term story here. JD's investment in growth over recent years is paying rewards already as far as I am concerned. The next couple of years will see major sporting events that could help boost customer demand. The company has a proven model that is highly cash-generative and could help support further growth without the company needing to take on debt to fund it. As far as I am concerned, the current JD Sports share price is a bargain. I acted on it because I did not want to miss what I see as an excellent opportunity. The post I've been loading up on this cheap FTSE 100 share this week! appeared first on The Motley Fool UK. More reading 5 Stocks For Trying To Build Wealth After 50 One Top Growth Stock from the Motley Fool C Ruane has positions in JD Sports Fashion. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Nike. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. Motley Fool UK 2025 Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
